Automatic yarn-coil winding machine



Feb. 18, 1964 s, FURST 3,121,540

AUTOMATIC YARN-COIL WINDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 18, 1964 5, FURST 3,121,540

AUTOMATIC YARN-COIL WINDING MACHINE Filed June 14. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1964 s, FURST AUTOMATIC YARN-COIL WINDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1960 FIG. 5

FIG. 5A

Feb. 18, 1964 s. FURST 3,121,540

AUTOMATIC YARN-COIL WINDING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGS United States Patent 3,121,540 AUTQMATIC YARN-COIL WINDING MACK-ENE Stefan Fiirst, Monchen-Glatlhach, Germany, assignor to Waiter Reiners, Monchemfiladbach, Germany Filed June 14, 1960., Ser. No. 35,960 Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 6, 1956 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-35.5)

My invention relates to methods and machines for winding yarn into bobbins, cops and other wound yarn packages, herein all briefly referred to as coils.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 675,773, filed August 1, 1957, now abandoned. More particularly, the invention concerns coil winding machines of substantially automatic performance, such as described in my copending application Serial No. 704,983, filed December 24, 1957, now abandoned, and having controls as described in c0- pending application Serial No. 15,503 of Walter Reiners, filed March 16, 1960, now Patent No. 3,030,040.

Such automatic coil winding machines are provided with a device for exchanging a depleted yarn-supply coil for a new, full coil and also with a tying device for joining the torn yarn ends in the event of thread break or for knotting the end of a new supply coil to the end of the yarn previously wound onto a take-up spool. Since in each individual winding station the supply-coil exchanging device and its supply-coil magazine, as well as the tying device, is used only for a short interval of time, it suffices to use a single tying and exchanging unit for a number of winding stations and place the single unit sequentially opposite the respective winding stations for performing any necessary yarn-tying or coilexchanging operation. According to prior proposals of this kind, the relative motion between the winding stations and the common tying and exchanging unit occurs in steps, each winding station being stopped a given interval of time in front of the unit, before the relative travel is continued. With this mode of operation, the stopping interval is productive only if it so happens that the one winding station then in serviceable position in front of the unit requires the performance of some servicing operation, i.e. a tying operation, an exchange of the take-up core, or an exchange of the supply coil. If nothing requiring any such operation has occurred in the arrested winding station, the stopping interval is wasted and reduces the temporal efiiciency of the entire winding machine.

It is an object of my invention to eliminate this shortcoming.

According to the invention, the relative travel motion between a group of winding stations and the single servicing unit that comprises a tying device and coil-exchanging means, is interrupted only when thread failure has occurred in the winding station just about to register with the servicing unit, that is only when the operation of that particular winding station has become interrupted due to thread break, completion of the take-up spool or depletion of the supply spool.

According to another feature of the invention, each of the winding stations of the winding machine possesses a control member which responds to absence of yarn between supply coil and take-up coil and is connected with the machine drive to control the relative travel between the winding stations and the servicing unit These condition-responsive members are used particularly for stopping the relative motion between winding stations and servicing unit in the event a coaction between the unit and one of the winding stations is necessary to again place that winding station into operative condition.

According to another feature of the invention, I provide a machine with control means which automatically repeat the just-mentioned cooperation between servicing unit and winding station until satisfactory tying of the yarn ends is attained. According to a modified feature, however, I devise the just-mentioned control means in such a manner that a repetition of the tying or coil-ex changing operations, if without satisfactory result, is repeated only up to a given maximum number of times, whereafter the particular winding station is identified by a signal and is taken out of further cooperation with the servicing unit until the attendant has eliminated the trouble in that station.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of the invention, these features being set forth with particularity in the claims annexed hereto, will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the embodiments of the invention shown by Way of example on the accompanying drawings in which:

KG. 1 shows schematically and greatly simplified a top view of a multi-station winding machine.

PEG. 2 shows a partly sectional side view of the same machine, illustrating on an enlarged scale the relative location of certain of the individual components, leaving out other components for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 3 shows schematically and partially in cross section another embodiment of such a winding machine, and illustrating the exchange of the take-up spool and related operations.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing in greater detail some of the components illustrated in MG. 3 and also showing further details of the take-up spool exchange mechanism.

MG. 5 is a schematic view of a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, showing the mechanical operation of the cam discs and the coil-exchanging mechanisms.

FIG. 5A is a side View of the bottom portion of rod 118 and the bell crank lever 141 which it engages, as viewed from the right of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing schematically details of an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3, but modified with respect to the rotating carrier of the winding stations; and

FIG. 7 is a partial top View of another modified machine comprising means for limiting the number of automatic attempts at tying the thread in an individual wind ing station.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate similar or corresponding parts in the several embodiments;

The multi-station winding machine schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a rotatable carrier structure 1 and a single stationary servicing unit 2. The struccute 1 carries a number of individual winding stations uniformly distributed over its periphery. Each winding station is provided with a yarn-supply coil 3 from which the yarn F passes over a rotating yarn guiding drum 10 onto a take-up spool 12. Each winding station is further equipped with a thread guard or feeler 33 which rests resiliently against the yarn to initiate one of the operations mentioned below in the event the yarn is absent due to exhaustion of the supply coil 3 or due to yarn breakage.

The stationary servicing unit 2 comprises a standard on which a yarn tying device 5 and a supply-coil magazine 6 with a coil exchanging device are mounted. The servicing unit 2 cooperates with the individual winding stations to exchange a depleted supply coil for a full coil from the magazine 6.

During operation of the machine, the winding stations on the rotating carrier 1 travel counter-clockwise (FIG.

1) past the stationary servicing unit 2. This travel is continuous and uninterrupted as long as the respective thread guards 33 engage a thread F running from the supply coil 3 of the winding station onto the take-up spool 12. However, when the thread guard 33 becomes displaced upon absence of yarn due to breakage of the thread or depletion of the supply coil in any one winding station, guard 33 opens a switch in the circuit of motor 64, and the carrier 1 is stopped in a position where the particular winding station is in front of the servicing unit 2 and hence in condition to cooperate with the unit in the manner described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the machine comprises a central vertical column 7 on which the carrier structure 1 is rotatably seated by means of a journalling sleeve 8. The carrier structure comprises for each winding station a mounting arm 9. A journalling frame 11 for accommodating the takeup spool 12 is pivotally mounted on arm 9 at 13. The shaft 14 of the guiding drum is likewise journaled on arm 9. The guiding groove of drum 10 passes the incoming thread back and forth along the take-up spool 12 in order to wind a cylindrical pack age of yarn thereon of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. During the winding operation, the drum 10 is driven by a friction roller 28 which is movable into and out of engagement with a drum 27 driven at constant speed by a belt drive 227 from a motor 226. The takeup spool 12, resting against drum 10, is thus entrained by drum 10 and causes the incoming thread to be wound upon spool 12 at a constant peripheral speed regardless of the diameter of the yarn package being built up.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the motor 226 does not directly drive the roller 27 but operates the wheel 228 through a special belt 231. Located beneath this wheel 228, on the same shaft, is another wheel 229. There are as many of the latter wheels 229 around the periphery as there are winding stations. An endless belt 227 passes from this wheel 229 to the roller 27. From here, the endless belt 227 (FIG. 1) passes back to the next middle wheel 229 and thence to the roller 27 of the adjacent spool and back through the middle wheel 229 and so forth. Since the motor 226 drives only the one wheel 228, the inclination toward the left as shown in FIG. 2, for better belt traction, is not detrimental, particularly since this motor is mounted on the rotating portion of the turntable 1.

The carrier structure 1 is driven by means of an elec tric motor 64 mounted on an arm 65 which is rigidly secured to column 7. The pinion 66 of the motor 64 meshes with a spur gear 67 mounted on the journalling sleeve 8.

Each supporting arm 9 carries one of the above-mentioned thread guards 33, a thread-tensioning device 40 and a pivot pin 22 upon which a coil holder for the supply coil 3 is rotatably mounted on a thorn or spear 23. The coil holder comprises an arm 24 rigidly joined with the holder spear 23. The holder structure together with the supply coil 3 is rotatable about pivot pin 22 so that the supply coil can be placed into the position shown by dot-and-dash lines at 3'. The thread running off the supply coil 3 passes through the thread tensioner 40 (FIGS. 2, 6) and past the thread guard 33 to the rotating guiding drum 10 and onto the take-up spool 12. Located beneath the supply coil 3 is a collecting box 26 to receive the emptied cores or quills of the supply coils after they are ejected from the winding station.

The stationary servicing unit 2 is provided with two suction devices 30 and 31 for finding and seizing the thread ends. The servicing unit 2 further carries a drive 132 to provide the power needed for the operation of the automatic devices and for the production of the vacuum needed for the suction devices 30 and 31. A number of full supply coils 6' are deposited in magazine 6. The starting ends of the threads coming from the respective coils 6' in the magazine are all placed in readiness by having them extend into the opening of a suction tube 6" which communicates with a vacuum space within the standard of the servicing unit 2. An inclined slideway 34 extends downwardly from magazine 6 into the vicinity of the supply-coil holder structure 23, 24 of the winding station. A doifer rod 35 and a pusher rod 36 extend along the slide 34 and are longitudinally displaceable by means of the automatic control equipment housed within the standard of unit 2 and driven by the motor 32. When one of the arms 9 is located opposite the unit 2, as is the case in FIG. 2, the pusher rod 36, when actuated, swings arm 24 of the supply-coil holder and moves the supply coil or its empty core into the position 3. Simultaneous lifting of the dofier rod 35 such as by means of link 116 connected to lock 117 (FIG. 2) causes hook 35' of rod 35 to pull the core off the spear 23, thus discharging the empty core into the collecting box 26.

The above described thread finding and seizing devices 3!) and 31 consist essentially of tubular arms which communicate through their respective hollow pivot shafts with the suction chamber within the standard of the servicing unit 2. This suction chamber or space within the standard 2 is connected with a pump or other source of vacuum (not shown). Suction arm 30 communicates at its outer end with the atmosphere, and through its pivot end with the suction space within the standard 2. The suction end of arm 30 is rotatable along an are denoted by 30'. The suction opening of arm 31, during rotation of that arm, travels along an arc denoted by 31'. Assume that the supply coil is depleted and exchanged for a full coil, or that the thread passing from the supply coil to the take-up spool is torn so that a tying operation is necessary. The absence of thread is sensed by the guard 33, as more fully described hereinafter, and initiates the following operations. The suction arm 30 moves clockwise and upward along the are 30', while the friction roller 23 is temporarily reversed and unwinds some length of yarn from the take-up spool 12. The yarn end from spool 12 is then drawn into the suction opening of arm 30 so that when the arm 30 thereafter returns downward into the illustrated position of FIG. 2, the thread end seized from spool 12 is passed into the operating range of the tying device 5. Similarly, the downward motion of suction arm 31 causes the thread end then held at the tensioncr 40 to be pulled into the suction opening. Thereafter, when suction arm 31 returns upwardly to the illustrated position of FIG. 2, this yarn end is also passed to the tying device 5, which is then effective to tie the two yarn ends together in a known manner.

As mentioned, the above described automatic operations are initiated by response of the thread guard 33. Such response is effected by means of an electric control system such as that more fully described in the above-mentioned copending application Serial No. 15,503 of Walter Reiners, filed March 16, 1960.

In the embodiment shown more in detail in FIG. 3, the above-mentioned turntable is substituted by a star-shaped carrier rotatably mounted on a vertical jonrnalling column 7. The carrier comprises a central sleeve memher 8 and a number of outrigger arms 9, one for each individual winding station, which are uniformly distributed about the periphery. Each arm 9 carries a rotatable yarn guiding drum 1% as Well as a journalling frame 11 for the take-up spool 12 of the station. The journalling frame 11 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 13 secured to the arm 9. The yarn guiding drum 10 is rotatable about a shaft 14. Frame 11 carries a cam segment 15 slidably engaged by the nose 2%? of a feeler 16 which is pivoted at 17 on arm 9 and carries an electric contact 18 as well as a manually actuable control knob 19. Contact 18 cooperates with a contact 21 fixed to arm 9 in order to control an electric circuit comprising a current source 23, the coil 24 of an electromagnet, and a signalling device 25.

The arm 9 carries a drive roller 27 mounted on a shaft 26 and cooperating with an intermediate friction roller 28. Roller 27 is kept continuously running by means of a drive (not shown) operabiy connected to drive shaft 26, which is journalled to arm 1. Friction roller 23 is journalled on a bearing member 29 pivotally linked to a lever 30 which has one end pivotally joined with arm 9 at 36', the other end of lever 31 being biased upwardly by a spring 31. Member 29 carries an armature 32 to be acted upon by the above-mentioned electromagnet which has a second excitation coil 39 aside from the coil 24 previously referred to.

A thread guard 33 of the winding station is pivotally mounted at 34 and carries an electric contact 35 to co operate with a counter contact 36 in an electric circuit 37 comprising a current source 38 and the electromagnet coil 39. Connecting leads 40 and 41 extend from circuit 37 to a slip ring 42 and to a contact-carrying ring 43, both mounted on the central sleeve member 8 of the rotatable carrier structure. Contact ring 43 carries mutually insulated contact pins 44 which cooperate With a stationary counter contact 45 of the servicing unit. Each individual winding station is provided with one of the contact pins 44-.

In the stationary servicing unit, an electromagnet 43 is connected between slip ring 42 and contact pin 44 by leads 46, 47, a contact brush 47' and the contact 45. The armature of magnet 4-8 is linked to a control lever 49 mounted on a stationary pivot shaft 51) and engaging a cam disc 51 by means of a pawl nose 52. When magnet 48 is energized, the cam disc 51 is released for rotation to operate the coil-exchanging device of the servicing unit. Such release occurs as follows. An entrainer lever having two arms 53, 54 is pivoted at 54 to the disc 51. The lever arm 53 normally abuts against pawl 52. Lever arm 54 carries a latch nose 55 for cooperation with teeth 56 of a driver gear 57 continuously driven from motor M. Lever 49 is normally biased to the illustrated position by a spring 53. The left-hand end of lever 49 is provided with an electric contact 59 cooperating with a fixed contact 61 Contacts 59 and are connected in an electric circuit 61, 62 comprising a current source 63 and a drive motor 64. The drive motor is mounted on a support 65 firmly connected with the upright journalling column 7. A pinion 65 on the motor shaft meshes with a spur gear 67 which is fastened to the central member 8 of the rotatable carrier.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is as follows:

Upon thread failure, that is when the thread F breaks, or the supply coil of the winding station is depleted, or a thread is entirely absent, the thread guard 33 turns clockwise about pivot 34 so that contact 35 engages contact 36 and closes circuit 37 thus energizing the electromagnet coil 39 from current source 38. Armature 32 is attracted and the friction roller 28 journalled on member 29 is pulled out of driving engagement between the continuously rotating driver 27 and the thread guiding drum 10. As a result, the guiding drum 10 and the take-up spool 12 stop operating. This may occur at any location and any time during the travel of the group of winding stations. The arrested winding station then continues travelling on its circular path until its contact pin 44 makes contact with the stationary contact 45 of the servicing unit and applies power from circuit 37 through leads 4% 41 and slip ring 42 to the leads 46 and 47 of the magnet 48. Magnet 48 turns lever 43, 52 counter-clockwise. This opens the circuit of drive motor 64 at contacts 5%, 6% so that motor 64 stops. The contact engagement of pin 44 and counter contact 45 and hence the excitation of magnet 48 take place exactly at the location at which the stationary servicing unit (2, in FIGS. 1 and 2) is opposite the proper winding station in which the thread guard 33 (FIG. 3) has responded.

The counter-clockwise movement of lever 52 releases the entrainer lever 53, 54 so that its latch nose 55 enters into one of the ratchet teeth 56 of the continuously rotating driver 57. Since lever 53, 54 is pivotally mounted on cam disc 51 which is now released for rotation, the disc 51 performs a single full rotation Which is transmitted to the tying device and thus actuates the various movements necessary for the tying operation and, if required, also for the coil exchange.

The operation of a cam disc, such as 51 in FIG. 3 in relation to the knotter 5 (FIG. 2) and release of the supply coil 3 from a trough in connection with the supply coil exchange, is described and illustrated in detail in my US. Patent 2,733,870 and also in copending applications of Walter Reiners Serial No. 696,495, filed November 14, 1957, now abandoned, and Serial No. 15,503, filed March 16, 1960. However, a brief description is included here, correlated primarily to FIG. 5, for a better understanding of the operation of the present machine.

The ratchet gear 57 (FIGS. 3, 5) is continuously driven by means of a chain drive 81 and sprocket 32 from a motor M, or from motor 132 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Ratchet gear 57 is coupled by a pawl lever 54 with the cam disc 51. Rotation of disc 51 and shaft is prevented until coil 48 is energized, after which the disc 51 and shaft 80 may turn through one revolution until the pawl nose 55 again automatically engages one of the ratchet teeth 56 of the driver 57 under the action of a spring (not shown) or the weight of nose 55. The disc 51 is fixedly mounted on the cam shaft 8%, which is rotated thereby in the direction of arrow 164 and stops when disc 51 is released from ratchet gear 57 lifting of pawl 54 upon de-energizing of coil 48 and action of spring 58 to pivot lever 52 counterclockwise about pivot point 50 into the position shown in FIG. 5, so as to raise pawl 55 from teeth 56. The cam shaft 8! has fixedly mounted thereon the cams 161 and 163, and is located within the servicing unit 2.

The cam 161 is formed with a groove 165 in which the bent end of rod 166 is located, this rod res extending slidably through the stationary bearing 167 so as to be reciprocated upon turning of earn 161. This rod 166 is pivotally connected at 163 to the lever 169 which is mounted for turning movement on the stationary shaft 170 of the apparatus. At 172, there is pivotally connected to the portion 171 of lever 16% a rack 173, and at 174 there is pivotally connected to lever portion 171 a rack 175. The rack 173 has the teeth thereof in engagement with the pinion 176 fixedly connected to the suction tube 177 which is mounted in the apparatus for turning movement about point 173. The open end 179 of suction tube 30, upon movement of rack 173, moves along the dot-dash line 33 to the point 179'. The rack 175, which is maintained in the illustrated position of FIG. 5 by any suitable support means (not shown) such as a spring, has the teeth thereof in engagement with the pinion 1S1 fixedly connected to the suction tube 31 which is mounted for turning movement about the axis of pinion 181 so that the open end 183 of suction tube 31 moves along the dotdash line 31' to the point 133 upon movement of rack 175. A knot tying device 5 is located in the apparatus between the tubes 31) and 31 and includes the rotatable lever 136 which is adapted to be moved by the righthand end of rack 173, as viewed in FIG. 5, to set the knot tying mechanism 5 into operation.

The cam 162 is located against lever 187 to operate the same, this lever 187 being mounted for turning movement on the stationary pin 1% which is located on the support 189. Also located on this support 189 is a stationary pivot pin 1% which pivotally supports a lever 191 which rests on the stationary stop 192 of the apparatus. The lever 131 is provided with a somewhat hook-shaped end 193. The lever 187 is linked at 195 to the rod 1% which carries a fixed collar 197 and a coil spring 1%; bearing against this collar. The spring 198 also bears against a fixed guide 199 of the apparatus, the rod 1% extending through guide 199 to be guided thereby, and the spring 198 in this way urges lever 187 against cam 162. The lever 196 is pivotally connected at 206 to the rod 201 which at its lower end carries aprojection 202 adapted to cooperate with end 193 of lever 191 and at its upper end is linked at 203 to the rod 204 which is pivotally connected to lever portion 2115 of lever 205, 206. Lever portion 206 is in the form of a transporting device for spool sleeves 211 and is pivotally mounted together with lever portion 205 on the stationary pin 207 of the apparatus. A spring 2418 is connected to lever portion 206 to urge the same into the illustrated position of rest (FIG. against the stationary stop 209 of the machine. The upper end of lever portion 206 is formed with a cut-out 210 to receive a spool sleeve 211 from the supply chute 212. Lever 205, 206 corresponds to lever 333 of FIG. 4, but the latter is operated by means of electrical controls, whereas the former is operated by mechanical cams and linkages.

The cam 163 on shaft 81) operates on the double arm lever 213, 214, which is mounted for turning movement on the stationary pin 216 that is fixedly connected to the stationary support 215. Lever portion 213 is heavier than lever portion 214 so as to remain in engagement with earn 163, and the right-hand end 217 of lever portion 214 is bent to cooperate with the somewhat hook-shaped end 145 of rod 144.

The above-described apparatus shown in FIG. 5 operates in the following manner to remedy a break in the thread or to exchange a supply coil:

When the thread F moving from supply coil 3 toward the guide roller breaks, the feeler lever 33, which is held in the illustrated position of FIG. 5 by the thread, rotates about point 34 to close the contacts 135 and 136 and thereby energize coil 48. Coil 48 rotates lever 52 counter-clockwise about pivot 50, so as to cause lever 54 to rotate clockwise to thereby engage its nose 55 with the teeth 56 of ratchet wheel 57. Disc 51 is thus entrained to turn the shaft Si) through one revolution in the direction of arrow 164.

During the first part of this single revolution, the cam 163 actuates the double lever 213, 214 to turn the same in a clockwise direction about the pin 216, as viewed in FIG. 5. However, as long as end 145 of lever 144 is located in the illustrated position of FIG. 5 beyond the range of end 217 of lever portion 214, the actuation of lever 213, 214 will have no effect on the apparatus. During a further part of the revolution of shaft 80, after the projection of earn 163 has moved beyond lever 213, the projection of cam 165 actuates the rod 166 and moves the same to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, through the guide 167. This results in a turning of the lever 169, 171 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, about the shaft 170. This turning of lever portion 171 results in a movement of racks 173 and 175 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5, but before this movement of the racks takes place the rotation of guide roller 14 has been reversed by a known apparatus connected thereto and not illustrated in the drawing, so that this roller 10 now turns in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5. The suc tion tube 30 holds, at its mouth 179, the end of the broken thread attached to the take-up spool 12 and moves this end of the broken thread to the point 179'. The month 183 of suction tube 31 pulls on the other broken end of the thread and moves the same to the point 183', the tubes 30 and 31 being turned simultaneously by the racks 173 and 175, respectively, and being located in diiferent planes so that the movement of one of the suc tion tubes does not in any way conflict with the movement of the other of the suction tubes. The suction tube 31 pulls thread from the supply spool 3. When the ends of the broken thread are located at points 179' and 183', the separate thread portions extend across the knot tying device 5 to be tied thereby in known manner, with knot tying device 5 being actuated by movement of lever 136 which is moved by the right-hand end of rack 173.

The above-described operation is based on the assumption that there is thread still remaining on the supply spool 3. If, when the feeler lever 33 moves as described above in the case of a thread break, there is a downward movement of feeler lever 118. This indicates that the supply spool 3 is exhausted and that there is no thread between the supply spool 3 and the thread tensioner 49. In this case, the downward movement of feeler 118 causes the bell crank lever 141 to turn about pivot 142 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, and this causes the rod 144 on the movable winding station to swing outwardly, or to the left as viewed in FIG. 5, so that the end 145 thereof is located beneath the end 217 of lever portion 214 located on the servicing unit. Therefore, when the lever 213, 214 is actuated by cam 163, as described above, the clockwise turning of lever portion 214 produces a downward movement of rod 144 and a clockwise turning of lever 13%, 131, 132 about pivot 129. The clockwise turning of lever portion 138 causes the empty spool sleeve of supply spool 3 to be moved ofi from the support pin 23. The further turning of lever 1311, 131, 132 causes the lever portion 131 to engage lever portion 125' and turn the same in a counter-clockwise direction about pivot 124 against the action of spring 127. At the same time, the rod 116 moves upwardly to turn the release member 117 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, so that a fresh supply spool 6' falls out of chute or magazine 6. This supply spool 6' falls onto the trough 34 and is guided thereby to slide to position 3 onto the pin 23 which has been turned by the turning of lever 125, 126 to a position to receive the new supply spool 6 which falls onto the chute 34. The further turning of cam 163 permits the springs 127 and 134 to return the supply spool changing mechanism to its position of rest illustrated in FIG. 5 so that a new supply spool 3 is located in an operative position in the apparatus and the thread F thereoi is now located in the region where it comes under the influence of the mouth 183 of the suction tube 31. The movement of thread F" by the suction force of tube mouth 133 causes the same to move beneath the upper end of feeler lever 118 which has been returned to the illustrated position of FIG. 5 by spring 134, any suitable guide means (not shown) being provided to guide the upward and downward movement of feeler lever 118. In the above-described manner, the changing of the supply spool takes place only when the lever 118 moves downwardly due to a lack of thread F" issuing from the supply spool. The duration of time required for the changing of the supply spool is controlled by the cam 163 which enables the entire supply spool operation to take place before the projecting portion of earn 161 actuates the rod 166.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A, the supply-coil exchange is released by the second yarn feeler 118. This feeler releases the exchange as soon as yarn is about at this location, that is, ahead of the yarn tensioner 40 and the yarn cleaner 120. Therefore, while the rod 118 rotates with the movable stations about pedestal 7 in the direction of the horizontal arrow of FIG. 5A, the rod 144 is arranged on the stationary portion of the machine. As indicated in FIG. 5, rod 118 is movable relative to bell crank 141, which it contacts to rotate the latter clockwise about axis 142 as rod 118 moves toward the viewer, as seen in FIG. 5. This direction of motion is indicated by the horizontal arrow of FIG. 5A. The rotational pivot shaft 142 of the angular lever 141 remains stationary, and the rod 118 glides over the linking location 141 as long as yarn is present along the path between the supply coil 3 and the yarn tensioner 40. If yarn is no longer present and consequently the yarn guard 11% has dropped downward, an inclined gliding surface, located at the lower end of the rod 118, serves to turn this angular lever 141 clockwise during the relative motion between rod on the rotating table and angular lever 141 on the servicing device. The

inclined surface at the bottom of rod 11% serves to press the bell crank 141 downward. The rod 143 in FIG. is then pulled toward the left relative to FIG. 5, and the connection of cam 145 with part 217 is established.

During the winding of thread onto the take-up spool 12, the lever 11 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction about pivot 13. When the diameter of take-up spool 12 has reached a predetermined magnitude, the end 193 of lever 191 will be located across the path of movement of the end 202 of rod 201. Therefore, when the cam 162 is turned with the lever 191 in the latter position where the end 193 thereof extends across the end 202 of lever 201, the end 193 of lever 191 will engage end 202 of lever 201 and cause the latter to turn in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, about its end 202. In this way, the earn 162 will actuate the lever 205, 206 to move a fresh take-up spool sleeve 211 to the take-up spool support 11, the extension of the upper end of lever portion 2% preventing successive sleeves 211 in supply chute 212 from falling out of the same. Other means (not shown in FIG. 5) are provided in the machine to release the full take-up spool 12 from the support 11, to mount the new sleeve 211 on the latter, and to join the thread to the empty sleeve 211 on support 11 so as to be wound on this sleeve 211. These means are described hereinafter relative to FIG. 3.

The above-described take-up spool changing mechanism is adapted to be independently actuated through the medium of movable contact 18 on lever 106. When the take-up spool is full, the contact 18 will have moved into engagement with the contact 21 to energize the core 114 which thereby attracts the lever portion 148 so as to turn the lever portion 147 of thread cleaner 1219 in a counter-clockwise direction about pivot 146 as viewed in FIG. 5. This movement of lever portion 147 causes the thread F to be torn by the thread cleaner 147, 126 so as to actuate the apparatus in the above-described manner.

As mentioned, the movement of lever 49, 52 (PEG. 3) in the counter-clockwise direction causes interruption of the rotating travel of the winding stations by stopping the motor 64 of the main drive. This interruption takes place during the single-turn rotation of cam disc 51 and lasts only until the thread guard 33 again moves into the position shown in FIG. 3 by becoming engaged with the thread F now knotted together by the tying device. This return movement of thread guard 33 opens the contacts 35, 36 and tie-energizes the magnet 43 so that the lever end 52 can release and again latch the entrainer lever 53, 54-. Simultaneously, the contacts 59 and 6 are again closed so that the drive motor 64, acting through pinion 66 and spur gear 67, again resumes imparting rotary travel to the winding stations until any one of the thread guards 33 responds and initiates a new stopping of the travel and a subsequent tying or coilexchanging operation in the above-described manner.

The operation of the coil exchange and take-up spool exchange mechanisms shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is as follows:

During rotation or running of the winding stations, eventually the take-up spool 12 attains its desired diameter. Since this spool rests upon the yarn-guiding drum 11 the journalling frame 11 is automatically lifted, by member 313b, more fully described below, and the hook 2% catches behind the upper edge of the segment 15. This causes the lever 16 to snap to the left under force of a spring 16a, and the contact 21 closes the circuit of current source 23. The signal lamp 25 becomes lit, and the magnet 24 is excited and attracts the armature 32. As a result, the lever turns clockwise about pivot 311a in opposition to the force of spring 31 and the holder frame 29 of the friction roller 28 moves downwardly so as to interrupt the frictional engagement producing the driving connection between the driving roller 27 and the yarn-guiding drum It). The winding station thus will stop operating.

The circle of winding stations is kept in rotation by the motor 64. As further relative motion takes place between the winding station (shown at the right of FIG. 3) and the spool exchange device (shown at the left of FIG. 3), the correct mutual position of registry occurs. The solenoid coil 301, which rotates horizontally about the axis of star-shaped carrier 7 together with the winding station, is likewise excited from the current source 23 when contact 21 closes, and acts upon an armature 302 which forms part of the stationary spool-exchange device. The armature 362 is thus attracted (toward the right in FIG. 3) in opposition to the force of spring 303 to move out of locking engagement with latching disc 304. The latching disc 304 is connected through a. slip clutch 305 with the rotating shaft 306, continuously driven from motor M. The latching disc 304 is rigidly connected with the cam disc 307. Consequently, when the latching action between elements 302 and 304 is eliminated, the cam disc 36"] also rotates with disc 304 in the direction of the arrow 308. The cam lobe 369 of cam disc 307 becomes positioned against the lower end of the lever 310 which is thus turned clockwise about the pivot 311 in opposition to the force of the spring 312.

The lever 311i possesses on its upper end a pair of spoollifting arms or horns 313 located opposite the take-up spool 12 and pivoted at 313:; on lever 314). The horns 313 are biased counter-clockwise by a spring 3141 which pulls them back against a stop 315. The pair of horns 313 has such a mutual spacing that the individual arms of the horn pair move in to either side of the wound package 12 of yarn (i.e. to the near side and far side as viewed in FIG. 3), without touching the Wound package itself. However, the spacing between horns 313 is so dimensioned that the respective arms of the horn pair reach a location in which the recesses 316 of each horn 313 are located beneath the axial spool body or core 317 and are thus capable of lifting the spool, despite its weight, as soon as the latching of the spool core 317 into the spool-journalling frame 11 is released. Such release is effected by the forward portion of the horn 313, as is apparent from FIG. 4.

The arresting of the rotation of spool body 317 is effected by means of clamping cheeks which move laterally of the package upon a screw thread (not shown) of steep pitch along the spool axis. Located on each of these axially movable clamping cheeks 328 is a lever 321 which is rigidly connected with the clamping cheek. The lever 321 is acted upon by a helical spring 322 which tends to turn the lever 321 into the illustrated position of FIG. 4. This position corresponds to that which provides the clamping of the spool body between the clamping cheeks.

When the forward pointed parts 313b of horn pair 313, during clockwise turning motion of lever 310, engage a stop pin 323 on the spool side of lever 321, then the lever 321 is turned counter-clockwises, relative to FIG. 4, against the force of spring 322. This eliminates the clamping action of the cheeks because the cheeks are now moved axially outward. Thereafter, the spool 12 rests only on the horn pair 313. The subsequent turning motion toward the left of lever 310 about pivot 311, due to action of cam lobe 309, transfers the spool 12 on arm 313 to the position 12 beyond the range of the spool journalling frame 11.

A hook 325 on one end of a pivoted latch arm 324 is located opposite to the pin 323 of lever 321. The latch arm 324 turns about its pivot 326 by means of a rod 329 and is biased by a spring 327 tending to urge the arm 324 against a stop 328. Linked to the other end of the latch arm 324 is one end of the rod 329 whose other end is linked to the arm 16 as shown in FIG. 3.

When horn point 3131) turns the arm 321 in counterclockwise direction, the stop pin 323 becomes lifted and caught behind the hook 325, hook again then snaps back under the action of spring 327, and the arm 321 will temporarily remain at standstill in the open position of the clamping cheeks during the exchange of spool 12 for a new core 317'. In the meantime, the cam disc 307 has now rotated a further extent in the direction of arrow 3%, and the cam lobe 309 is now opposite a lever 330. Lever 330 is turned counter-clockwise about a pivot 331 and has a second lever arm 332 actuatable by lever 330 so as to entrain a magazine arm 333 which is rotatable about a pivot 334, thus moving arm 333 clockwise. Mounted on the upper end of the magazine arm 333 is a magazine 336 for spool-cores or sleeves. Magazine 336, during the clockwise turning motion of arm 333, is brought along path P into the range of the spool-journalling frame 11. The magazine 336 is provided with a stop 335 at its forward end. During the forward motion of the magazine, the stop member 335 abuts against the arm 324 of the latching hook 325 and thus releases from the latter the pins 323 so that the arm 321, under the action of helical spring 322, can snap back down to the position of FIG. 4 and thereby clamp the new sleeve-type spool core 317' offered to the arm 321 by the magazine 336. The leading edge of stop member 335 extends at a slant to the pivot axis of the arm 333 so that the edge deflects to the side the yarn, passing to the inlet from the take-up spool 12' which now lies in the horn at position 313. As a result, the yarn is placed between the clamping cheeks and the spool core 317 while the new spool core is being clamped fast and is thus likewise clamped fast at that location.

During insertion of the new spool core 317', the stop 335 hits the arm 324 more strongly than is required merely for releasing the arm 321. The additional force produces a motion which is transmitted through the rod 329 to the arm 16 and moves the arm 16 against the action of spring 16a and toward the rear (pivoting it clockwise about pivot point 17) to such an extent that the segment 15 is released from the hook 20, thus permitting the spool frame 11 to lower itself by pivoting about axis 13. For damping the lowering operation, the spool frame 11 is connected by a rod 340 with a piston 341 which is movable in a damping cylinder 342 filled with oil or other hydraulic liquid. The new spool core is thus lowered to position 317" and engages drum 10.

Due to the clockwise return motion of the lever 16, the electrical circuit at contact 21 is interrupted. The lamp 225 is extinguished, and the excitation of winding 301 in magnet 24 likewise ceases. This releases the armature 32. As a result, the lever 31 under the action of spring 31, moves upwardly together with its frame 29 and its friction roller 28, and the winding operation is continued by the driving action of the yarn-guiding drum 1t? against the new spool core 317". As soon as the new take-up spool is filled, the above-described operation is again repeated.

In the meantime, the armature 362, upon its release from solenoid coil 301, opens a contact 345 in the energizing circuit of the drive motor 64. The opening of this contact has the effect of stopping the winding station at the moment when the cooperation between the stationary spool-exchanging device and the travelling Winding station commences. As soon as the spool exchange is completed and the solenoid coil 391 is again excited from source 23 when contact 21 closes, the contact 345 is again closed and the drive motor 64 for the circular travel of the winding station is thus again switched on, to rotate the star-shaped carrier 7 until the next winding station to be serviced coincides with the stationary spool-exchange device.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is largely similar to that described with reference to FIG. 3. It will be noted that in FIG. 6, the rotatable carrier of the winding stations consists of a turntable :1 similar to that shown in FIG. 1. In each station, the thread F runs from a supply coil 3 to a take-up spool 2. A sensing member or thread guard 33 is pivotally mounted on a support 68 protruding from the carrier 1. Thread failure or absence, due to any cause, permits the guard 33 to turn into the dot-and-dash position 33 (FIG. 6). A nose 6? of thread guard 33 then enters into the active range of an arm which is normally held in the illustrated position by a spring 71 and forms an integral part of a triple-armed lever structure 70, 72, 73 rotatable about a pivot 74- in the stationary servicing unit. Lever arm 72 forms a latch pawl 75. Lever arm 73 has a contact 76 to cooperate with a fixed counter contact 77. Both contacts form part of an electric circuit 78 which comprises a drive motor 64 and a current source -63. Latch pawl cooperates with an entrainer 53, 54 whose latch nose 55 is engageable with a continuously rotating drive gear 57 for operating a cam disc 51 on a shaft 30 as described above with reference to FIG. 2. Entrainer 53, '54 is biased by a spring 79 toward the illustrated position. Shaft 80 is journalled on a support 81. The periphery 99 of cam disc 51 has a recess 1% which has an ascending portion 101 merging with the circular periphery 99.

The operation of the embodiment according to FIG. 6 is as follows. When the thread guard 33, responding to absence of the thread F, moves into the position 33', it places the nose 69 into the range of lever arm 79 which is located in the stationary tying and coil-exchanging unit (5, 6 in FIG. 1) located outside of the circular travel of the winding stations. As soon as the nose 69, during travel of the winding stations, hits against lever arm 70, the lever structure 79, 72, 73 turns clockwise about pivot 74 so that the contact 76 on lever arm 73 moves away from contact 77 and opens the circuit of the drive motor 64.

This terminates the travel motion of turntable 1 so that the winding stations are temporarily arrested relative to the stationary servicing unit of tying and exchanging devices. At the same time, the latch nose 75 on lever arm 72, rotating clockwise, releases the entrainer 53, 54 which then follows the bias of spring 79. As a result, the latch nose 55 enters into the teeth of driver 57 and imparts to cam disc 51 a single-turn rotation as described above with reference to FIG. 3. The tying operation and, if necessary also an exchange of the supply coil, takes place during this single-turn rotation, also as mentioned above. If, due to failure of the tying operation, the thread guard 33 continues to remain in the position 33, another single-turn rotation of cam disc 51 takes place. This is repeated until a knot is tied and the thread guard 33 is returned into the dot-and-dash position of normal winding operation. The latch nose 75, sliding along the periphery 99 of cam disc 51, cannot return counter-clockwise into normal position until a full rotation of cam disc 51 is almost completed. Shortly before completion of rotation, the pawl 75 enters into the recess 1% and is then ready to lift the latch nose 55 of entrainer 53, 54 out of the ratchet teeth of disc 57. Such lifting of nose 55, however, is not effected by the pawl 75 of lever structure 70, 72, '73 if the lever arm 70 is still engaged by the thread guard 33, that is when the guard still occupies the position 33' because of continued absence of the thread.

There is an operational interaction between the travel of the winding stations and the rotation of cam disc 51. Cam disc 51 can be set in motion only when contacts 76, 77 are open, that is when the turntable drive 64 is stopped. On the other hand, the drive '64, 66, 67 can be operated only when the contacts 76 and 77 are closed, that is, when the cam disc 51 is at standstill, so that the entrainer lever 53, 54, 55 occupies the position shown in FIG. 3. The main drive motor '64 is preferably provided with an automatic brake so that the rotating travel of the winding stations is stopped immediately upon opening of contacts 76, 77

In the embodiments of FIG. 6 as described above, the tying operation repeats itself indefinitely if it does not result in proper knotting of the thread ends. That is, the cam disc 51 keeps rotating until the thread guard 33 is moved clockwise by the thread and the nose 69 again releases the lever arm 70. This may have the dis advantage that, in the event of unusual trouble, an individual winding station may remain too long at the stationary tying and coil-exchanging unit. For that reason, the embodiment shown in FlG. 7 is modified so as to crmit only a limited number of attempts to perform a tying operation.

The machine according to FIG. 7 is largely similar to that of FIG. 6, but differs therefrom as follows. The thread guard 33 is joined with another lever 32 and has an extension 83. In response to thread absence at a sta tion, a lever 32 and extension 83 turn together with thread guard 33 into the respective positions 32', S3 and 33'. A lever 84 at each station is pivotally mounted on a pivot 85 and carries a latch nose 36 as well as an actuating knob 87. An extended arm 88 of lever 34 coopcrates with a biasing spring 89 and carries a contact 9%. A counter contact 91 at each winding station is connected through an electric lead 92 with a signalling device 93 and with the lead 7-3 of the common energizing circuit for drive motor 6 Another lead $4 connects the respective contact 9% to a lead 95 of a respective heater winding on the binietal strip of a thermostat 96 at each winding station, all thermostats being in series with motor e4. A pull member d7 is linked to the lever '73 and is guided at 98 for lon adinal displacement.

During operation of the machine according to HG. 7, the single-turn rotation of cam disc 51 is initiated under control by the parts 33, 69, 7t), '72, 75, 53, 5d, 55 as described above with reference to FIG. 6. Thereafter, the thread guard 33, S3 is turned back into the normal position 33, 83 shown by dot-and-dash lines by operation of the pull member $7. This return movement of the thread guard comes about when the latch nose '75 runs onto the cam portion ltll of disc 51. If the "thread is not properly tied, the thread guard 33 can again drop into the position 33 shortly before termination of the single-turn rotation of cam disc 51, but in that case the latch nose 75 cannot drop into the recess Edit and thus cause lever arm '73 to move the pull member 97 toward the right. Consequently, another single-turn rotation of cam disc 51 is initiated in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. 6.

Connected in the circuit 78, 95 of the drive motor 64 is a timing device consisting of a thermostat at each winding station whose bimetal strip changes its position when the contacts 76, 77 connected to a particular thermostat remain open for an extended period of time. When several attempts at kn'otting the thread by tying operations fail so that the respective winding station remains excessively long arrested in front of the tying and coihexchanging unit, is. when contacts 76 and 77, by continued engagement of a respective nose 69 with lever arm 79 of the servicing unit remain open for a prolonged period of time, then the heater of the respective thermostat 96 remains dc-energized and the thermostat cools suihciently to move the left end of the bimetal strip downwardly so that biasing spring 89 turns the arm 88 counter-clockwise about pivot 85. Consequently, the respectlve lever arm 84 with latch nose 36 and actuating knob 37 also moves counter-clockwise, and the end of lever 82 places itself beneath the catch '86 as soon as pull member 97 turns the thread guard 33 clockwise. As a result, the cycle of operations described above with reference to FIG. 6 can repeat itself only as long as the lever 83, 8 remains released by the b'imetal strip of thermostat Thereafter, the thread guard 33, 82, 83 is kept blocked by catch 86. The particular winding station thus blocked is automatically disabled as regards its cooperation with the stationary tying and exchanging unit. No further attempt at performing a knotting or coil-exchanging operation taltes place because the nose 69 of thread guard 33 cannot pivot into the outward position despite the absence of the thread. In this condition, the

id contacts 9t? and 91 operate the signal device 93 in circuit 92. After elimination of the trouble by the attendant, he turns knob 87 clockwise about pivot in order to release arm 82 from catch 35 thus unblocking the station.

I claim:

1. The method of operating a yarn-coil winding machine having a group of winding stations and a single yarn-tying and coil-exchanging unit, one movable relative to the other into periodic registry for temporary coaction in the event of yarn failure, which comprises continuously maintaining the relative movement between the group and the unit as long as no thread failure occurs in any station, arresting the relative movement only upon occurrence of thread failure in any one station and then holding said one station temporarily in registry with the unit, causing the unit to attempt a correcting operation a given maximum number of times, and thereafter continuing the continuous relative movement selectively upon completion of correction or attainment of said maximum number respectively.

2. The method of operating a yarn-coil winding machine having a group of winding stations and a single yarn-tying and coil-exchanging unit, one movable relative to the other into periodic registry for temporary coaction in the event of yarn failure, which comprises continuously maintaining the relative movement between the group and the unit as long as no thread failure occurs in any station, temporarily arresting tne relative movement only upon occurrence of thread failure in any one station with said one station in registry with the unit, causing the unit to at tempt a correcting operation a given maximum number of times, and placing, wl en said number is reached with out effecting correction, said one station out of action during its subsequent passages past the unit.

3. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a group of individually operable winding stations and a single servicing unit, said group and said unit being movable one relative to the other into periodic registry for temporary cooperation of said unit with each of said respective winding stations, each station having take-up spool means and supply-coil accommodating means and a winder drive for passing a thread from said supply-coil accommodating means to said take-up spool means, and each of said stations having a sensing member responsive to thread fail ure between said two means, said unit having threadfailure correcting means comprising a supply-coil magazine and a thread tying device cooperable with each of said stations when said station is in position of registry relative to said unit, a main drive for imparting said relative motion, and drive control means connected with said main drive and cooperatively connected sequentially with said sensing members of said respective stations during said relative motion to control the speed of said drive only upon thread failure in any one station, whereby said motion remains continuous and at a given speed as long as no thread failure occurs.

4. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a rotatable carrier having a number of mutually spaced winding stations and a single stationary servicing unit located at a given point of travel of said group, a main drive connected with said carrier for cyclically moving each of said stations past said unit and into registry therewith for temporary cooperation of said unit with said respective stations, each station having take-up spool means and supply-coil accommodating means anda winder drive for passing a thread from said supply-coil accommodating means to said take-up spool means, each of said stations having a sensing member responsive to thread failure between said two means, said unit having thread-failure correcting means comprising a supply-coil magazine and a thread tying device cooperable with each of said stations when said station is in registry with said unit, and drive control means connected with said main drive and cooperatively connected sequentially with said sensing members of said respective station's during said travel 15 to stop said main drive only upon thread failure in any one of said stations, whereby said travel remains continuous as long as no thread failure occurs.

5. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a rotatable carrier having a number of mutually spaced winding stations and a single stationary servicing unit located at a given point of travel of said group, a main drive connected with said carrier for cyclically moving each of said stations past said unit and into registry therewith for temporary cooperation of said unit with said respective stations, each of said stations having take-up spool means and supply-coil accommodating means and a winder drive for passing a thread from said supply-coil accommodating means to said take-up spool means, each of said stations having a movable sensing member normally engaging the thread between said two means and capable of displacement to a control position in response to absence of the thread, and each station having winder control means connected with said winder drive and responsive to said displacement of said sensing member to stop said winder drive, said unit having thread-failure correcting means comprising a supply-coil magazine and a thread tying device cooperable with each of said stations when said station is in registry with said unit, and drive control means connected with said main drive and cooperatively connected with said sensing member when said station is in registry with said unit to then stop said main drive only when said sensingmember is in said control position.

6. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a rotatable carrier having a number of mutually spaced winding stations and a single stationary servicing unit located at a given point of travel of said group, a main drive connected with said carrier for cyclically moving each of said stations past said unit and into registry therewith for temporary cooperation of said unit with said respective stations, each station having take-up spool means and supply-coil accommodating means and a winder drive for passing a thread from said supply-coil accommodating means to said take-up spool means, each of said stations having a sensing member responsive to thread failure between said two means, said unit having coil-supply means and thread-tying means and a driving mechanism for opcrating said supply and tying means, said coil-supply and tying means being cooperatively related to each of said stations when said unit is in registry therewith and said driving mechanism in operation, and drive control means connected with said main drive and with said driving mechanism, said sensing member being in controlling connection with said drive control means when said unit registers with said station to stop said main drive and operate said driving mechanism only upon occurrence of thread failure in said station.

7. In a winding machine according to claim 6, said drive control means comprising an electric system having a control contact actuable by said sensing member and having for each of said winder stations a contact movable together with said carrier, and said stationary unit licving another contact selectively engageable with said respective movable contacts when said respective stations are in position of registry, whereby said electric system is subject to control by said sensing member and is active only when said station is in said position of registry.

8. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a rotatable carrier having a number of mutually spaced winding stations and a single stationary servicing unit located at a given point of travel of said group, a main drive connected with said carrier for cyclically moving each of said stations past said unit and into registry therewith for temporary cooperation of said unit with said respective stations, each station having take-up spool means and supplycoil accommodating means and a winder drive for passing a thread from said supply-coil accommodating means to said take-up spool means, each of said stations having a movable sensing member normally engaging the thread between said two means and capable of displacement to a control position in response to absence of the thread, and each station having winder control means connected with said winder drive and responsive to said displacement of said sensing member tostop said winder drive, said unit having coil-supply means and thread-tying means and a driving mechanism for operating said supply and tying means, said coil-supply and tying means being cooperatively related to each of said stations when said unit is in registry therewith and said driving mechanism in operation, and drive control means connected with said main drive and with said driving mechanism, said sensing member being in controlling connection with said drive control means when said unit registers with said station to stop said main drive and operate said driving mechanism only upon occurrence of thread failure in said station.

9. In a winding machine having a plurality of winding stations and tender means provided with a driving mechanism for correcting winding interruptions in said winding stations due to absence of yarn, and a main drive for providing relative motion between said stations and said tender means, drive control means connected with said main drive and with said driving mechanism, a sensing member at each of said stations responsive to absence of yarn, the sensing member of a respective station being in controlling connection with said drive control means when said tender means registers with said respective station so as to stop said main drive and operate said driving mechanism only when said sensing member has responded to absence of yarn, each of said winding stations being provided with a timing device connected with said drive control means to operate together with said driving mechanism and responsive to a given total period of time comprising several respective operating cycles of said driving mechanism, and disconnect means connected with said timing device and controlled thereby to break said controlling connection, whereby said drive control means is prevented from stopping said main drive and operating said drive mechanism when a given number of operations of said drive mechanism fail to eliminate thread.

failure.

10. In a winding machine having a plurality of winding stations and tender means provided with a driving mechanism for correcting winding interruptions in said winding stations due to absence of yarn, and a main drive for providing relative motion between said stations and said tender means, drive control means comprising an electric control system having electric power supply means and having an electric motor which forms part of said main drive and an electromagnetic coupling means which forms part of said drive control means, each of said winding stations having a movable sensing member normally engaging the thread being wound, said sensing member having control contact means connected in said control system, said motor and coupling means being energized from said power source under control by said contact means, and a thermostatic timing device connected in said control system to be also energized from said power source, said thermostatic device having a member displaceable to a given position when said coupling' means is energized a given number of times, and said member forming part of said drive control means to prevent stopping said motor and operating said drive mechanism when repeated operation of said drive mechanism fails to eliminate thread failure.

11. Method for winding yarn in a Winding machine equipped with a plurality of winding stations and with tender means for automatically eliminating winding interruptions at the winding stations, comprising providing mutual relative continuous uniform motion between said winding stations and tender means and activating said tender means only in the event of a winding interruption at a respective winding station which has entered within a predetermined action range of the tender means, and substantially stopping said relative motion within said action range for a period of time only sullicient to ellminate said Winding interruption and only when the Winding at said respective Winding station is interrupted.

12. In a Winding machine equipped with a plurality of winding stations and having tender means for automatically eliminating winding interruptions at said Winding stations, and wherein said Winding stations and tender means have continuous uniform mutual relative motion past normally operating stations and the tender means are active only in the event of winding interruptions at a respective winding station and Within a predetermined action range of the tender means, the improvement comprising means for at least substantially stopping the relative travel motion between said winding stations and said tender means within said action range for a pe- 18 riod of time only sufiicient to eliminate said winding interruption and only when there is absence of yarn in said respective Winding station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STA ES PATENTS:

2,716,004 Reiners Aug. 23, 1955 2,733,870 Furst Feb. 7, 1956 2,757,874 Marcellus Aug. 7, 1956 0 2,764,362 Goodhue Sept. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 726,437 Great Britain Mar. 16, 1955 740,687 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1955 

3. A YARN-COIL WINDING MACHINE, COMPRISING A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALLY OPERABLE WINDING STATIONS AND A SINGLE SERVICING UNIT, SAID GROUP AND SAID UNIT BEING MOVABLE ONE RELATIVE TO THE OTHER INTO PERIODIC REGISTRY FOR TEMPORARY COOPERATION OF SAID UNIT WITH EACH OF SAID RESPECTIVE WINDING STATIONS, EACH STATION HAVING TAKE-UP SPOOL MEANS AND SUPPLY-COIL ACCOMMODATING MEANS AND A WINDER DRIVE FOR PASSING A THREAD FROM SAID SUPPLY-COIL ACCOMMODATING MEANS TO SAID TAKE-UP SPOOL MEANS, AND EACH OF SAID STATIONS HAVING A SENSING MEMBER RESPONSIVE TO THREAD FAILURE BETWEEN SAID TWO MEANS, SAID UNIT HAVING THREADFAILURE CORRECTING MEANS COMPRISING A SUPPLY-COIL MAGAZINE AND A THREAD TYING DEVICE COOPERABLE WITH EACH OF SAID STATIONS WHEN SAID STATION IS IN POSITION OF REGISTRY RELATIVE TO SAID UNIT, A MAIN DRIVE FOR IMPARTING SAID RELATIVE MOTION, AND DRIVE CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID MAIN DRIVE AND COOPERATIVELY CONNECTED SEQUENTIALLY WITH SAID SENSING MEMBERS OF SAID RESPECTIVE STATIONS DURING SAID RELATIVE MOTION TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF SAID DRIVE ONLY UPON THREAD FAILURE IN ANY ONE STATION, WHEREBY SAID MOTION REMAINS CONTINUOUS AND AT A GIVEN SPEED AS LONG AS NO THREAD FAILURE OCCURS. 